Mayers and Williams Set the Record Straight

The two fastest men in Barbados are set for a classic showdown when they go head-to-head during the Digicel Williams Seaboard Marine International Race Meet at Bushy Park on September 1/2. While both Roger Mayers and Stuart Williams will be representing their country in round two of the 2012 Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), there is the small matter of the outright lap record to deal with.

At a wide-ranging and convivial media briefing hosted by the Barbados Auto Racing League (BARL) and its title sponsors at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Wildey, today (Thursday), reigning CMRC Champion Mayers made it clear that regaining the lap record he held for five years was his top priority: "I'm aiming to get the lap record back, even if I don't win any races."

Mayers (Chefette/Digicel/Illusion Graphics Ford Focus) set the mark of 40.996 seconds in the third race of BARL's June 2007 fixture, eclipsing the 32-year-old record of 42.6s, which was set by Bizzy Williams – Stuart's father - in a single-seater Brabham BT28 in 1975, shortly before Bushy Park's first chapter ended during a worldwide fuel crisis.

Of losing it to Williams, Mayers noted: "I'd been a bit complacent. No-one was getting near, but then Stuart took it away from me . . . and by quite a lot. But I haven't been sleeping! Stuart has really lit the fire. He knows how difficult it is finding the improvements at those speeds, and a tenth is a lot. Getting from 43 to 42 seconds is quite easy, and 42 to 41 isn't too bad. But getting into the 40s is real tough."

The lap record reverted to the Williams family on Easter Monday this year, when Stuart clocked 40.866s in the day's first Group 4 race in the Williams Equipment/Alpen Bars Lotus Elise. Graciously reminding everyone at today's briefing that Mayers is still the four-wheel-drive lap record holder, Williams added: "I know he has a target on me, so I will be putting in every effort. Even though it is so difficult for anyone to come and race in light of the current economic environment, I believe we're going to see some very stiff competition, as a number of competitors have been improving their cars."

Their thoughts were echoed by the event's title sponsors: Digicel's Alex Tasker said: "We are proud to be associated with what promises to be a thrilling day at Bushy Park; tell all your friends to be there." For Williams Industries, Bizzy said: "This venue's amphitheatre offers the spectator an experience unique in the Caribbean, and we are proud to sponsor the Digicel Williams Seaboard Marine International Race Meet at this special venue."

For Seaboard Marine, the exclusive shipping agent for BARL since the first International was run in 2003 although only an official sponsor for the past three years, Aswad Bannister added: "We are pleased to align ourselves with this International event, and I trust that everyone will hold off their rain dances until after September 2." On behalf of the event's newest sponsor, Caribbean Airlines, Veena Rattan-King said: "We are very happy that BARL approached us to become involved, as we operate in all the territories. We look forward to bringing in many motor racing fans in the future."

BARL officials also gave an overview of the race programme: there will be 25 races, with a total of 208 racing laps, starting at 9.00am. In answer to media questions about the Club's back-up plans in light of last year's delays, Chairman Adrian Mayers said: "In our follow-up meeting last year, we identified a number of issues which impacted on the running of the meeting. I can assure you that you will not see a repeat of last year."

Race Committee Chairman Kurt Seabra added: "Our major problem last year was that we started late. Our plan for the day is that the major CMRC races will run as close to the scheduled times as possible, even if local races have to be moved around to make that happen. And I can assure you that the Monster Energy Handicap will run... and I hope, given their cars have survived the day, that the likes of David Summerbell and Andrew King will join in, to give us a Handicap to remember."

Digicel Williams Seaboard Marine International Race Meet timeline

Friday, August 24 – 4:00pm: Meet the Drivers promo, Mall Internationale, Haggatt Hall
Saturday, September 1 – 1:00pm: Qualifying, Bushy Park
Sunday, September 2 – 8.00am: Digicel Williams Seaboard Marine International Race Meet
Monday, September 3 – 7.00pm: Prizegiving
* all times are approximate